Bayern sink new boys Fuerth as Bundesliga turns 50

BERLIN (AFP) –

Bayern Munich's Luiz Gustavo (R) and Fuerth's Djiby Fall fight for the ball

Bayern Munich’s defender Luiz Gustavo (R) and Fuerth’s Djiby Fall fight for the ball. Bayern opened their German league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at newly promoted Greuther Fuerth on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga‘s 50th season.

Bayern Munich opened their German league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at promoted Greuther Fuerth on Saturday on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga’s 50th season.

Fuerth were making their Bundesliga debut and held their famous Bavarian neighbours for most of the first half until their defence finally cracked as goals from Thomas Mueller, Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben secured the win.

“In the first half, there were no surprises or changes in tempo in our game,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who also rejected media reports he will quit at the end of the season when his contract expires.

“We improved in the second-half where we were dominant, very clever and very smart. The team has shown we want to be successful this season.”

Nuremberg’s midfielder Mike Frantz (C) and his teammates celebrate after their German first division Bundesliga football match against Hamburg in Hamburg, northern Germany. Nuremberg won the match 1-0.

Bayern are still smarting after Borussia Dortmund won last season’s Bundesliga title while Munich lost both the German Cup and Champions League finals.

Bayern opened the scoring in Fuerth when new signing Dante headed down from a corner and although defender Heinrich Schmidtgal cleared off the line, Germany star Mueller was on hand to stab home.

Bayern doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Robben attacked the Fuerth defence on the right and after his shot was parried by Max Gruen, Mandzukic was on hand to head home and make it 2-0.

Since signing from Wolfsburg, the Croatia striker has scored four goals in three games for Bayern, including two in Monday’s 4-0 German Cup first-round win at Jahn Regensburg.

Freiburg’s midfielder Max Kruse celebrates scoring during their German first division Bundesliga football match against Mainz 05 in Freiburg, southwestern Germany. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Robben hit the third 12 minutes from time with a spectacular shot from the left side of the goal that curled inside the near post from a tight angle after his shot clipped the boot of defender Thomas Kleine.

There was drama on Saturday night as VfL Wolfsburg claimed a late a 1-0 victory over Stuttgart.

First Wolves goalkeeper Diego Benaglio saved a penalty from Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic in the 88th minute then Wolfsburg’s 23-year-old Dutch forward Bas Dost headed the 90th-minute winner on his Bundesliga debut.

Promoted Eintracht Frankfurt got their season off to a great start as they came from behind for a 2-1 win at home to Bayer Leverkusen thanks to an equaliser from Stefan Aigner and a late header from Martin Lanig.

Borussia Moenchengladbach responded after their home defeat by Dynamo Kiev in Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first leg with a 2-1 victory at home to Hoffenheim.

Striker Mike Hanke headed home on 33 minutes, only for Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino to equalise with a header on 66 minutes.

Stuttgart’s midfielder Ibrahima Traore (L) and Wolfsburg’s defender Ricardo Rodriguez fight for the ball during their German first division Bundesliga football match at the Mercedes-Benz arena in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany. Wolfsburg claimed a late a 1-0 victory over Stuttgart.

Gladbach’s Venezuela midfielder Juan Arango unleashed a spectacular free-kick on 79 minutes to claim the points.

Hamburg’s season got off to a bad start with a 1-0 defeat at home to Nuremberg, whose new signing Hanno Balitsch, freshly arrived from Leverkusen, grabbed the winner 22 minutes from time.

Striker Dani Schahin had an afternoon to remember with both second-half goals for promoted Fortuna Duesseldorf in their 2-0 win at Augburg.

In the afternoon’s other game, Freiburg were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Mainz.

Schalke are home to Hanover on Sunday while defending champions Borussia Dortmund kicked off the new campaign with a 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen on Friday thanks to goals from Germany stars Marco Reus and Mario Goetze.